The 54-year-old guided CSKA to the domestic title in each of his previous stints, in 2002/03 and 2007/08, to add to the four championships and two Bulgarian Cups won as a player for the Reds during the 1980s. Mladenov's finest hour on the pitch came when the then national-team striker scored twice to knock holders Liverpool FC out of the European Champions Clubs' Cup at the quarter-final stage in 1982. He later coached Bulgaria between 2000 and 2002.

Penev, who is Bulgaria's most successful club coach, was relieved of his duties after CSKA's 2-0 defeat at PSFC Chernomorets Burgas on Sunday which left the capital outfit third in the A League, three points behind leaders PFC Ludogorets Razgrad. Penev will nonetheless stay on at the club as honorary president.

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